Ornamented knitted fabric and method of making the same



Dec. 18, 1934. M KR|5$|EP 1,985,210

ORNAMENTED KNITTED FABRIC AND METHOD F MAKING THE SAME Filed Dec. 19,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l TlE l 57 t! Illllll INVENToR. .Max Irssgp,

I ym

' l ATTORNEYS.

M, KRISSIEP ORAMENTED KNIITED FABRIC AND METHOD OFMAKING THE SAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1931 HI H H INVENTOR. Max Masi?,

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOF OBNAMENTED KNIT'I'EDFABRIC 'AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Max Krissiep, Wyomissing, Pa.,assignor, by

mesne assignments,

to Berkshire Knitting \Mills, West Reading, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 19, 1931, Serial No. 582,078

18 Claims.`

My invention relates to a new and improved article combining a knittedfabric and a separatelyformed selvage-edged fabric strip, and to themethod of uniting them during the knitting material with theknitted'fabric by an interknit` ting of lines of loops of both fabrics.

Preferably such separately formed fabric strip l5` is rendered elasticby the introduction of elastic strands, or by its formation of anelastic thread or threads, such strip elasticity preferably beinggreater than the natural elasticity of the knitted fabric, so that whencombined lwith the latter it will not bind the knitted loops.

In order that the separately formed strips may be integrally combined byinterknitting with the loops of the knitted fabric, said strips arepreferably formed with a selvage edge, or edges, and with aline, orlines.' of loops at said selvage edge or adjacent to` the latteradaptedto engage the needles of the knitting machine.

This new combination of knitted and separately differently formedfabrics, the manner of its use for ornamental and useful purposes, andthe method of its satisfactory and economical production will be fullydescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novelfeatures thereof specifically set forth inl the appended claims. v

Figure 1` indicates a knitted stocking embodyingA the presentimprovements, showing braid employed as a top' edging, as anintermediate depending circular band, 'and asa sectional insert.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View, more -clearly disclosing thebraid employed as a top edging for a stocking.

-Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged view, more clearly showing the braidemployed as a circular band at the turned welt junction with the legportion of a stocking. ,l

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged view, showing the braid employed as asectional insert in the stocking. l y,

Fig. 5 indicates the method of introducing the braid to the knittingneedles for its integral interengagement with the knitting loops'formedby the needles. f

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig, 5, but showing the braid loopstransferred to the needles and lowered In .the embodiment of thedrawings showing a 'full-fashioned stocking having separately formed(Ol. 66-1'12) l braid added thereto, the speciiic showings of suchapplication are to be understood as merely i1lus' trative of severaldifferent suggestive ways in which the braid may be introduced andintegrally combined.

The braid employed may be f any usual structure and thread, and forpurposes of greater elas tic expansion than ordinary braid, may beformed partly or entirely of elastic strands or threads so as not tolimit or bind the usual elasticity of the knitted fabric, and serve whendesired as a garter support or the like; the braid employed beingpreferably so formed as to have one or more lines of loops readilyengageable on the needles of a.

knitting machine.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the braid 5 is indicated as having a lace pattern,andthe line of loops 6, engageable with the knitting loops, yasextending along one edge of the braid and formed by fseparated returnbends of the braid threads. These 1,985,210 Flor-1* braid loops areengaged by the first course of loops 'I of the knitting to integrallyunite them to, the stocking top 8, the braid' extending above I' saidcourse to form an ornamental braided lace top or edging. This braid 5may form an edging at the folded end of a usual welt top of a stockling; or it may be topped on the needles to engage the first knittedcourse and thus not onlyy form a top edging, but permit the productionof a 'stocking having a singlen` thickness of knitted fabric, withoutthe usual turned welt. Fig. 3 shows a plain braid 10,01 any patterndesign and united along one edge below the top of the stocking, beingshownnas engaging the course correspondingly spaced stocking courseslaand 19; the side edges 20, '2,1 of the stocldng on either side of thebraid A15 being preferably selvage edges united to the side edges of thebraid by a seam or other securing means, and the knitting being omittedbetween the top and bottom edges of the insert. l

In Figs. 5 and 6, a means is shown for uniting the braid loops to theknit loops, by transferring the braid loops to the knitting needles tobe interknit into the desired course of loops formed on said knittingneedles. Such means comprises a usual transfer bar or ring employed asheretofore, the braid loops being placed on the points of the transferbar or ring which is t/hen superimposed with said point 26 to engagementinstead withy the shank of needle 25. Thread now fed to said needles 25by thread guide 28 will beengaged by the hooked end of needles 25 anddrawn through the loop 27 prior to the loop being cast of! the needle inusual knitting movement of the latter. It will vbe readily seen that, bythis means, the braid loops may be transferred to the knittingneedlesand such braid loops engaged by the next course of knitted loopsto integrally unite the braid to the knitted product.

The topping method above described is satisfactory and effective forengaging the braid loops with the first formed course of knitted loops,but to introduce such braid loops to the needles for engagement with asubsequently formed knitted course so as to appear on the outside of thefabric, the braid loops must be on the shanks of the needles before theknitting is started. In Fig. 8, the braid loops 27 are shown engaged onthe shanks of needles 25, but have been pressed downward on said shanksuntil they lieI below the usual knock-over bits 29 of thev knittingmachine, where they may remain idly supported while fabric is knittedabove them' on the needles 25. When it is desired to add the braid to adetermined needle course, the loops 27 are lifted above the knockoverbits 29 which then support them to be interengagediwith the next courseof knitted loops formed. A plurality of braids may be added to theknittedfabrlc by successively transferring the line of loops of eachbraid to the needles 25 and pressing them all below the knock-over bitsi9,V each braid being singly above the latter at the selectedknittingcourse with which it is to be interengage'd; or twoor morebraidloops may be'jiointly raised for interengagement in the same'knittingcourse.` v

In the arrangement shown `iny Fig. 2, the braid A loops are transferredto empty needles as a first step before knitting thefirst course of thestocking, 'the braid then being Joined to said first course to form theornamental edging described, and the 'formation of a stocking withoutthe l usual turned welt heretofore found Inecessary to lsecure the firstformed .course of loops.

edging lmay be added aty the 'fold of the usual This welt by pressingthe transferred braid loops on the needles below'the knock-overl bitsbefore starting-knitting, and raising them above the knock-over bitswhen forming the knitted course that will lie at such fold of the welt.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, a turned weltis vformed as usual byreengaging the first loops on needles having loops thereon of asubsequently formed course; and it will be understood that the braidloops previously transferred to the needles and pressed thereon belowthe knock-over bits, are now raised above the latter so that the nextformed course of knitted loops will interengage with the previouslyformed course, the reengaged first formed course and the braid loops tointegrally unite them.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, at the point of raising above theknock over bits 29 they previously transferred braid loops 16 on theneedles.. additional thread guides are employed to produce sectionalfabric in well known man' ner, the carrier feeding thread to the needleson which the braid loops 16 have been transferred, making a few coursessucient only to interknit with said braid loops to secure the latter tothe fabric, and then ceasing to feed for a time. Thespends to the lengthof the space between braid loops 16 and 17, the loops 17are then raisedon the needles, above the knock over bits, and a single thread guideresumes its thread feed to all the needles producing a full width course19 to interknit with and unite the loops 17 at the lower edge of braidto the knitted fabric and also to interknit with the last formed partcourses on each side of said braid insert. The selvage edges 20 may besubsequently secured or looped to the side edges of the braid 15 tounite them, and the few courses of knitting beyond the part courseinterknitting with braid loops 1'6 may be secured in any convenientmanner, as bya tying thread to prevent disengagement of the braid loops16; or such braid course may not have been interknit and subsequentlyunited by seaming similar to the side seaming.

From the foregoing description of various methods of adding the braid tothe knitted fabric, it will be readily seen that a great variety ofnovel combinations may be produced, providing varied ornamentaledgingsfbands and inserts. It will also be readily understood thatthe-braid loops interknit with the knitted loops need Inot necfabricalong a line or lines intermediate its width. l And when the braid isformed of elastic strands or thread, such braid mayy beadded-to serve afunctional use of a stocking supporting. garter located at the top ^or ianywherev below the `latter thereto aswell.v

From the foregoing descriptionxit is believed that the nature of' myimproved combined fabric, and its method` of production ymay be'readilyuns Vderstood; It will be further understood this (novel combination isnot limited to stockingsbut is applicable 'to other knitted articles,produced on straight bar or circular machines, and the braid withsuitable loops, notnecessarily of equal num- 'as'desired, saidgarteriformin'g an integral partof the stocking and x an ornamentaladdition ber with the-knitting needles, ybeing readily probraided fabrichaving a line of integrally braided loops which are directlyinterknitted with the loops of a determined course of the knittedfabric.

2. 'A new article of manufacture comprising a knitted fabric and atransverse band of separately formed braided elastic fabric integrallycombined therewith, said band' being formed with a longitudinal line ofintegrally braided loops 'Various' other modifications and 60 which aredirectly interknitted with the loops of a determined course of theknitted fabric.

3. A new article of manufacture comprising a knitted stocking and a laceband of braided elastic thread integrally combined therewith, said bandhaving free integrally braided selvage edge loops directly interknittedwith a determined course of the knitted fabric. Y

4. The method of integrally combining an' insert strip of separatelyformed fabric with a knitted main' fabric during the knitting ofdetermined courses of the latter, which comprises, topping longitudinallines of loops at or adjacent opposite edges of the separately formedinsert fabric onto the needles of a knitting machine preliminary to theknitting of the main fabric, maintaining said linesvvof loops in idleposition during knitting of the main fabric to the first determinedcourse, shifting-the line of loops at one edge of said insert fabric toactive position on said needles, interknitting said line of loops withsaid ilrst'determined course, knitting the main fabric to a seconddetermined course, shifting the line of longitudinal loops at the otheredge of the insert fabric to active position on said needles, andinterknitting said line of loops of the insert fabric with the seconddetermined course of the knitted fabric.

5. The method of integrally combining an insert strip of separatelyformed fabric with a knitted main fabric during the knitting ofdetermined courses of the latter, which comprises, topping longitudinallines of loops at or adjacent opposite edges of the separately formedinsert fabricv onto the needles of a knitting machine preliminary to theknitting of the main fabric, maintaining said lines of loops in idleposition during knitting ofthe main fabric to the first determinedcourse, shifting the line of loops at one edge of said insert fabric toactive position on said needles while maintaining the line of loops atthe opposite edge thereof in inactive position on the needles,interknitting said shifted line of loops at one edge of the insertfabric with said first determined course of the main fabric,discontinuing the knitting of the main fabric'in a number of walescorresponding to the width of said separately formed insert fabric andknitting partial courses of the main fabric at each side of said insertfabric to asecond determined course of the main fabric, shifting theline of loops at said other edge of said insert fabric to activeposition on said needles, and resuming knitting of full courses of themain fabric to interknit said insert fabric at its other edge withthesecond determined course of the main fabric.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a composite fabric having a knittedportion and a braided portion integrally combined with each other, saidbraided portion having a line of integrally braided selvage loopsadjoining a determined course of the knitted portion and directlyinterknit with the loops of said course. l

7. As a new article of manufacture, a composite fabric having a knittedportion and a braided portion integrally combined with each other, saidbraided portion having a line of integrally braided selvage loopsadjoining a deter mined course of the knitted portion, the number ofselvage loops corresponding to the'number of loops of said .determinedcourse in the length thereof adjacent said braided portion, and each inga` course of plain loops and a braided portion integrally combinedtherewith, said braided portionk having a line of integrally'braidedselvage loops each of which is directly interknit with an associatedplain loop of said knitted portion.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a composite fabric having a knittedportion comprisling a plain course of alternate sinker and needle waleloops and a braided portion integrally combined therewith, said braidedportion having a line of integrally braided selvage loops directlyinterknit with the sinker Wale loops of said plain knit course.

11. As a new article of manufacture, 'a composite fabric having aknitted portion comprising a plain course of alternate sinker and needlewaleloops and a braided portion integrally combined therewith, saidbraided portion having a line of integrally braided selvage loopsdirectly interknit with the needle wale loops of said plain knit course.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a composite fabric having knittedportions comprising with the sinker and needle Wale loops respectivelyof said vplain lcourses of the knitted portions.

13..A stocking having an area of plain knit fabric and an area ofbraided fabric integrally combined with the plain knit fabric, saidbraided fabric having a line of integrally braided loops which aredirectly interknit with the loops of a determined course of said plainknit fabric.

14. A stocking having a knitted upper portion and a top portioncomprising a braided fabric integrally combined with said knittedportion, said braided fabric having -a line of integrally braidedselvage loops directly interknit with the loops of a determined courseof said knitted portion of the stocking.

15. A stocking having a knitted upper portion, and a top. portioncomprising a braided lace band incorporating a plurality of elasticthreads integraliy united with said knitted portion, said lace bandhaving a line of integrally braided selvage loops directly interknitwith the loops of a determined course of said knitted portion of thestocking.

16. A stocking having knitted portions and a braided portion integrallyunited with each other, said braided portion having integrally braidedloops at the opposite selvage edges thereof adjacent determined coursesof said .knitted portions and directly interknit with the loops of saidcourses.

MAX KRISSIEP.

